C172 experienced complete electrical failure during night flight under VMC conditions.

Attributes
ACN	752878
Time
Date	200709
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	airport : zzz.airport
State Reference	US
Altitude	msl single value : 8500
Environment
Flight Conditions	VMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Operator	general aviation : instructional
Make Model Name	Skyhawk 172/Cutlass 172
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 91
Flight Phase	cruise : level
Flight Plan	None
Person 1
Affiliation	other
Function	instruction : instructor
Qualification	pilot : atp pilot : cfi pilot : multi engine
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 35 flight time total : 3830 flight time type : 27
ASRS Report	752871
Events
Anomaly	aircraft equipment problem : critical
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	controller : issued new clearance flight crew : declared emergency flight crew : landed in emergency condition
Supplementary
Problem Areas	Aircraft
Primary Problem	Aircraft

Narrative:

About 15 mins off; I experienced a total electrical failure. So I phoned center to arrange clearance into ZZZ; class C; D; and taxi. Center phoned back with clearance to land on runway 30; taxi to my ramp; and look for a green light. About 35 mi southeast of ZZZ; I turned on the master electrical switch to see if I had developed enough power for the transponder. It came on; and within a few mins the screen went blank. So I turned off the master and planned to turn master and transponder on 7700 within 5 NM of ZZZ; so any TCAS equipped aircraft could also see me as I approach ZZZ for landing. While looking for the green light for landing and preparing for a safe; no flap landing; I forgot to return the transponder to 7600. Landing and taxi were uneventful; other than I was never able to see the light gun signal.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: C172 EXPERIENCED COMPLETE ELECTRICAL FAILURE DURING NIGHT FLT UNDER VMC CONDITIONS.

Narrative: ABOUT 15 MINS OFF; I EXPERIENCED A TOTAL ELECTRICAL FAILURE. SO I PHONED CTR TO ARRANGE CLRNC INTO ZZZ; CLASS C; D; AND TAXI. CTR PHONED BACK WITH CLRNC TO LAND ON RWY 30; TAXI TO MY RAMP; AND LOOK FOR A GREEN LIGHT. ABOUT 35 MI SE OF ZZZ; I TURNED ON THE MASTER ELECTRICAL SWITCH TO SEE IF I HAD DEVELOPED ENOUGH PWR FOR THE XPONDER. IT CAME ON; AND WITHIN A FEW MINS THE SCREEN WENT BLANK. SO I TURNED OFF THE MASTER AND PLANNED TO TURN MASTER AND XPONDER ON 7700 WITHIN 5 NM OF ZZZ; SO ANY TCAS EQUIPPED ACFT COULD ALSO SEE ME AS I APCH ZZZ FOR LNDG. WHILE LOOKING FOR THE GREEN LIGHT FOR LNDG AND PREPARING FOR A SAFE; NO FLAP LNDG; I FORGOT TO RETURN THE XPONDER TO 7600. LNDG AND TAXI WERE UNEVENTFUL; OTHER THAN I WAS NEVER ABLE TO SEE THE LIGHT GUN SIGNAL.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of January 2009 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.